62 Days (9 page)

“
Glad you had a good time. You deserve it. I’m out with new BF Sam.”

“
New BF?” Suze very rarely calls her men BF’s…

“
Met him Friday night in a bar. He took me to dinner yesterday and today we are just coming back from a theme park day.”

“
It sounds serious…”

“
It is. We haven’t even had sex yet  :O”

“
So pleased. Keep it up.” I urge her. I am keeping everything crossed for Suze and Sam. Who knows, maybe she will break through her short dating record this time.

I finally go off to bed and lie down alone for the first time in days. I ache all over for him with a real physical pain. I hope he’s missing me.

The following two days are rather hectic at work. I am lost in a wild whirl of emails and paperwork leftover from the Friday and some extra stuff on top, due to the fact that one of the other secretaries has been whipped into hospital with appendicitis, so we are all sharing her work out too. It is Tuesday lunchtime before I finally hear from him. I know he has probably been busy, but that was a long wait. I would have preferred a call but I suppose a text will have to do.

“
How’s my favourite legal secretary?”

“
How many do you know?”

“
Only you.”

“
I’m ok. So busy I could cry.”

“
Well that makes two of us. Still on for Friday?”

I immediately wonder exactly what Caroline and Mark are evaluating so intensely that he is busy enough to cry over it… I also suddenly realise I have forgotten to ask for my half day. I am not sure this is going to go down too well with Mr Watkins considering how flat out we are all working here. I decide I am going to have an urgent dentist appointment instead. Teeth can’t wait…

“
Is 2 ok? Send me address later.”

My heart stops with the next one I get.

“
Yes and will do xx miss you xx “

I sit and look at it forever. Is that a generic miss you or a deep heartfelt one. I decide on the former, being a natural pessimist. I am brave and reply the same way.

“
xx miss you 2 xx ”

On Wednesday I decide to drop a thank you card into Mark’s letter box, so he gets it before I see him. This‘ll make him all warm and toasty and even more miss you’ ish I’m sure. I sit at work and print off two of the best Paris photos of us from my phone. One of him and one of me. I have to admit we make a nice couple, as I hold the photos up side by side. I stick them inside the card and put it in the envelope. Then I drive over to his place on the way home from work. I am just about to open the letterbox and put the card in when the door opens. A tall dark haired beauty of a woman stands before me wearing a black leather mini skirt and a tight laced up blouse. She has her bag tucked under her arm and looks like she’s about to go out. Who the bloody hell is this camping out in his home?

“
Oh Ciao.” She says in surprise seeing me standing on the doorstep.

“
Hello, I’m Rachel. Can you give this to Mark please.” I say clearly holding out my card. Definitely an Italian beauty, this one.

“
Mio Mark darling, eee’s away.” She replies.

I nod, a little taken aback by the Mark darling tone of her conversation. I put the envelope in her hand. “For Mark.” I say even more simply. I take a good look at this tall olive skinned twenty something goddess and feel very ordinary in comparison. How many women like this has he got in his life, I wonder? I wander back to my car and drive off in a rather deflated mood.

Then I go round to see mum and dad as I almost pass their door on the way back to my place. Mum tells me that my Paris friend is extremely nice looking. She gives me a deep questioning look. Dad is engrossed in his crossword. Mum and I go into the kitchen to make some tea.

“I
s this Mark your new boyfriend?”

“
I think so mum.” I decide to be vague. I am actually not sure what we are anyway.

“
So who is he?” She probes…

“
I keep telling you. He’s a millionaire property developer.”

She looks at me with the words finally sinking in. She finally gives me a nice little believing smile.

“
Well Ray. Good for you.”

I am invited round to Suze’s small apartment for some of her usual chicken caesar salad on Thursday evening. She has been very quiet with her texting this week and I’m intruiged as to why. She is usually little miss text a lot – she obviously has other far more interesting things going on. I take her a bottle of her favourite wine and knock on her door. She answers it with a wide smile on her face. I get a big hug and a kiss. Well, she’s in a great mood. The BF must be doing her a lot of good.

“
How’s it going with Sam?” I ask her

“
Great. I’m going away to London with him this weekend. He’s booked us into a hotel and we’re going to see a west end show.”

“
I’m so pleased for you.”

“
So am I, especially after last night.” She has a hot and dreamy look going on.

“H
ave you finally had your wicked way with Sammy boy?”

“
And then some…”

“
Good was it?”

“
I’m in love with every part of him.” I can understand that feeling…

“
Oh Suze, really?”

“
He’s a big boy. I particularly love that part.”

“
That’s nice… ” She can stop now. But of course she doesn’t.

“
Everything hurts today… can’t wait for my next big boy bashing.”

“
I’ll get the glasses out shall I?” I wander into the kitchen quickly before she gets even more graphic.

Friday finally comes around and I leave early complaining of a bad tooth as planned. Mr Watkins seems to be preoccupied and doesn’t take much notice of my departure. I drive over to Mark’s office with the address he sent me. I go in and up to the young looking receptionist. I am signed in and ushered inside and told to walk to the end to Roni’s office. She is wearing a red blouse today, I’m informed.

I do as requested, looking around as I go, not that there’s much to see as it is basically a wide corridor. I spot a red blouse sitting at a glass desk inside a glass walled office. The person wearing it is something else. Blond, slim, beautiful… like a real life Barbie doll. I enter Roni’s office and introduce myself. She is expecting me.

She asks me to take a seat as Mark is just finishing a meeting. I hear hoots of laughter coming out from the ‘meeting’. Mainly female. It sounds like Mark’s meetings might be fun. The door swings open and out strides another beauty. Where does he get all these hot women from? Short dark hair, immaculately suited and manicured with killer high heels. Marks voice calls out to her retreating back. “Have a nice weekend Caroline.”

“
Yeah, you too sweetheart.” Caroline turns and smiles into Mark’s office.

Well, Caroline seems to be on quite intimate terms with her boss. She briefly glances in my direction giving me the once over before she disappears out of Roni’s office and down the corridor. Mark emerges from his office and spots me sitting there.

“
Rachel! You’re here…”

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Mark smile such a massive smile. He comes over and pulls me up, out of the chair with a lot of enthusiasm and gives me a big tight twirling hug. I can’t help but notice that Roni gives me a scowl over his shoulder.

He leads me into his office and shuts the door. He presses me up hard against the wall and starts to kiss me with a wild passion. I am rather overwhelmed by his very amorous mood. Five full minutes later he still hasn’t finished. Not that I’m complaining. I’m in seventh heaven with his welcome to my office routine. His hands start roaming over me, squeezing my behind and rubbing me everywhere under my clothes. He is nuzzling my neck and kissing my ears. My whole body is aflame, my heart pumping with excitement. I wonder if he is planning to have office sex with me right now. I don’t think I could say no the way I feel. I’m steaming with a weeks worth of pent up desire and need of him. Then he stops and breaks away.

“
I really missed you.” He says thickly.

“
I really noticed.” I can just about manage to speak coherently…

He holds my hands. “Thanks for the card, that was very sweet and thoughtful.”

The phone rings and he walks over to answer it. He starts having a normal conversation with someone called Charles. Then it becomes more intense and he is talking about costings and quantatives and PPUs whatever they are… Suddenly he starts getting rather annoyed and shouts quite loudly.

“
Fuck, I don’t believe it… No..” He is running his free hand through his hair in a frustrated and heated manner. He slams the phone down and walks to the door, opens it and shouts at Roni…

“
Get Max in here, NOW!” then he turns to me and in a rather controlled tone he asks me “Ray, would you mind waiting outside, I need to have a very unpleasant conversation with someone.” I leave and sit down again with Roni.

A tall and thin and very worried young looking man arrives and goes into his office. I’m glad I wasn’t him.

The conversation seemed to begin fairly quietly and then Mark was off on a rant.

“
225k Max! For Fuck’s sake! Fucking hell… I don’t believe it. Decimal point in the wrong fucking place…. Your job to check…”

I try to turn my ears off. I am feeling very uncomfortable sitting here listening. Roni looks a touch pink in the cheek too. Finally a red faced Max leaves his office and hurries off back to whence he came. Mark reappears, composed and seemingly ready to continue where we left off.

“
Ray, sorry about that.” He takes my hand and we go back into his office. I get another big hug and another just as passionate long kiss . “Thank God it’s the weekend and I have you.” He murmurs, his breath against my ear.

My heart starts jumping for joy. He seems so very keen on me right now.

“
What was all that about?” I dare to ask “I’ve never heard so many swear words crammed into one sentence.”

“
It was a mistype on price per units on a builders quotation for the Nottingham project we’ve just completed. Some electrical equipment was costed at 250k instead of 25K. It was all paid for months ago. Our accountants only just spotted it. That little mistype cost me £225,000. I was really annoyed with Max for not checking it properly.”

“
You can say that again…”

“
Still, never mind. I’m over it now.”

“
Can’t you get it back? Ask the builders for a refund?”

He laughs a little at my suggestion. “Trying to get money back from builders is like trying to get blood out of a stone. They always have cash flow problems or a multitude of other excuses. It’s not worth the effort.”

“
So… did you fire him, Max I mean?”

“
No, of course not. Anyone can make a mistake. I’m sure he won’t do it again.”

“
Well that’s really decent of you Mark. I’m pretty sure Mr Watkins would have asked me to clear my desk and leave immediately if I’d just cost him £225,000.”

He smiles a touch. “I happen to be a really nice boss.”

“
You’re more than nice you’re lovely full stop.” I hoped my love struck adoration wasn’t too obvious.

“
How lovely?”

“
Very, very lovely. I’ll show you later.”

“
Maybe you can tell me as well.”

Mmmm, not sure about this. Mark has a way of making me say things… picking at my brain. Tonight could be difficult.

I am then shown around the office. I see Will and say hello. He gives me an ‘I know exactly what you’ve been up to with my boss’ wink. I blush. I make a mental note to tell Suze off. We finish our tour round and go back to his office. He sends Roni home early.

“
So Mr Williams, what have you got planned for us?” I ask him with a good helping of my best naughty Ray expression.

“
Two full days of you showing me how lovely I am. How does that sound?”

“
It sounds really hot to me… when can I get started on that?”

“
How about now?”

“
What, in here?”